BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT was another successful weekend for high school track and field as Charles E. Mills Secondary School (CEMSS) once again proved its dominance at the TDC Interschool Championships, holding off a strong challenge from Charlestown Secondary School (CHS) to secure the national title.
After dominating the first two days of competition, the Sandy Point–based institution looked set to wrap up the championship early on the final day. However, Charlestown Secondary ensured the competition would go down to the wire, setting up a thrilling finish before a raucous crowd at the Kim Collins Athletics Stadium.
In the end, the Boys’ 4x400m relay proved decisive. CEMSS needed a win — or for Charlestown not to win the event — to secure the title, and the team delivered, showing grit and determination to hold off the Nevis-based school, which finished second in the race.
When the final medals were counted, CEMSS finished with 29 gold, 20 silver and 25 bronze medals. Charlestown Secondary placed second with 27 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze, while Verchilds High School secured third with 18 gold, 22 silver and 12 bronze medals.
President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Athletics Association, Delwayne Delaney, said he was ecstatic with how the championship concluded, noting that the competition highlighted the depth of talent in the Federation.
“I don’t know if people believed me, but I told them that it would be one for the ages,” Delaney said. “You can’t ask for more from what we saw over these three days.”
Nevis’ Minister of Sports, Troy Liburd, also congratulated the athletes and organizers, praising the high level of competition and Nevis’ strong showing, particularly from Charlestown Secondary, which finished second overall, and Gingerland Secondary, which placed fourth.
He also called for continued support for the athletes, noting that the Federation has world-class talent and must continue to create opportunities and pathways for young athletes to develop and compete regionally and internationally.
Attention will now shift to the Primary School Championships this weekend, before several of the high school athletes travel to Grenada to represent St. Kitts and Nevis at the CARIFTA Games over the Easter weekend.
